Clogged sinks, drains and P-traps

Where clogs come from

Bathroom sinks clog with hair and soap scum that wrap around the pop-up stopper rod. Kitchen sinks clog with grease that cools and hardens in the trap and the line beyond it, catching food scraps along the way.

Tub drains collect hair under the stopper. Older galvanized and cast iron drains also narrow over time as scale builds up inside, so a drain that has been slow for years may need more than a quick clearing.

How we clear a sink

1. Remove and clean the pop-up stopper or basket strainer.
2. Pull the P-trap and clean it out.
3. Run a hand auger into the trap arm and the line beyond to break up the blockage.
4. Reassemble with new slip-joint washers where needed.
5. Run hot water and check for leaks.

We avoid harsh chemical drain openers. They can damage older pipes and finishes, and they make the work dangerous if the clog does not clear.

Leaking traps

A trap that drips usually has a loose slip nut, a cracked washer, or a corroded metal trap that has worn through. Chrome-plated brass traps from decades ago rot from the inside. We replace them with new traps and tailpieces, and line up the trap arm so the connection sits straight. A trap that is too low or too high causes leaks and gurgling, so we adjust the height when needed.

Pop-up stoppers

A bathroom pop-up stopper that will not stay up or down usually has a loose pivot rod or clevis strap under the sink. We adjust or replace the parts. When the whole drain body is corroded, we replace it with a new pop-up drain that matches the faucet finish.

Gurgling and smells

A sink that gurgles or smells like sewer may have a dry trap, a trap that siphons, or a venting problem. A trap that has not been used in a while needs a run of water. Some older homes have S-traps that siphon dry; we can replace the trap where the existing drain allows.

What is outside our scope

Clogs that back up into several fixtures at once, or show up in a tub when the washer drains, are in the main line. Clearing the main line and replacing drain lines inside walls or under slabs are outside our scope.

Kitchen versus bathroom clogs

Kitchen clogs build from grease, starch and food, and they often sit beyond the trap in the horizontal line inside the wall. That is why a kitchen sink can drain slowly even after the trap is cleaned. A double-bowl sink with a disposal on one side can also back up into the other bowl when the shared tee is packed.

Bathroom clogs are almost always within the first foot: hair wound around the stopper rod and a soap-scum plug in the tailpiece. Clean those out and the drain runs fast again.

Tub and shower drains

Tub drains slow when hair collects under the stopper. Lift-and-turn, toe-touch and trip-lever stoppers each come out differently. We remove the stopper, pull hair from the drain body and the crossbars, and use a small auger when needed.

Shower drains with screw-down strainers get the same treatment. If the tub drain flange is corroded or the stopper will not seal, we can replace the stopper and, where accessible, the drain trim.

Keeping drains clear

• Use a hair catcher in tubs and showers.
• Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing.
• Run hot water for a minute after using the kitchen sink.
• Clean pop-up stoppers every few months.
• Do not pour cooking oil, coffee grounds or paint down sinks.

What to send

A photo of the sink and the cabinet underneath, and a note on whether other drains are slow. If several drains are slow at once, tell us; that points to the main line rather than the sink.

Signs the problem is beyond the sink

• Toilet water level rises when the sink or tub drains.
• Gurgling from a tub when the washer empties.
• Water backs up in a floor drain or the lowest fixture in the house.
• Every fixture drains slowly at the same time.

These point to the main line or a shared branch, which a sink auger cannot reach. Running more water or adding chemicals only adds to the backup.

Older drain materials

Older homes can still have galvanized drain arms inside the kitchen wall. Over decades, rust and grease narrow the inside diameter until a small amount of food stops the flow. Augering opens a path, but the pipe stays narrow. If the same sink clogs again within weeks, the drain arm may need replacing when rust has narrowed it.

Photo checklist